Professor Richard Whittington

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Biographical details

Richard graduated with a BVSc from The University of Sydney and spent several years in small and mixed animal practice on the NSW south coast and in the United Kingdom before undergoing training with NSW Agriculture in Veterinary Pathology. Following five years as a diagnostic pathologist Richard commenced full time research at the Veterinary Research Station, Glenfield and Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, working mainly in microbiology, virology and immunology of economically significant diseases of sheep and fish, and completed a PhD on the immunology of Dichelobacter nodosus infection in sheep at the University of Sydney.

Richard currently leads research on the pathobiology of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, the cause of Johne's disease in ruminants, and infectious diseases of finfish and wildlife including the platypus. His research activity encompasses epidemiology, diagnostic test development and validation, biosecurity, import risk analysis for aquatic animal health, and the impact of viral infections on conservation of threatened aquatic finfish species. Major studies involve vaccine development for D.nodosus infection in sheep, molecular studies of viruses and bacteria, immune responses and pathology in individual animals and animal populations. This aims to improve understanding of host-pathogen interactions and will lead to development of improved diagnostic tests, vaccines and other disease control strategies. This research is conducted at Camden in specialist infectious diseases laboratories and involves a large and dynamic group of young scientists, post graduate students and support staff. Richard also leads several international projects in Indonesia. He teaches in veterinary public health, microbiology, pathology and ruminant and aquatic animal health. Richard was the inaugural chair of the Veterinary Public Health Management Program, a unique post graduate course work degree program for animal health professionals. Richard is an OIE-nominated technical expert on EHN virus and ranavirus, and jointly manages the reference laboratories for these agents for the OIE in conjunction with CSIRO AAHL. He is a member of national and international scientific committees and a board member of the International Association for Paratuberculosis.

Awards and honours

In the media

ABC (South East NSW, Gippsland) interviewed Professor Richard Whittington from the Faculty of Veterinary Science about a new study which assists in identifying footrot in sheep.

Salon(US)quoted Professor Richard Whittington from the Faculty of Veterinary Science about a herpes virus found in oysters that could threaten the industry

TheWashington Post( US) and Bloomberg(US)quoted Professor Richard Whittington from the Faculty of Veterinary Science about a herpes virus found in oysters, which could threaten the industry.

The Herald Suninterviewed Professor Richard Whittington from the Faculty of Veterinary Science about the novel methods to uncover the secrets to an aggressive strain of herpes that killed off more than 10 million Australian oysters in just three days.

666 ABC Canberra, Radio National Canberra's Country Breakfast andRadio National Canberra (AM) interviewed Professor Richard Whittington from the Faculty of Veterinary Science from about the Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome.

ABC Rural interviewed Professor Richard Whittington from the Faculty of Veterinary Science about his research into testing for Johne’s disease.

Professor Richard Whittington was interviewed by ABC Northern Tasmania about a recent World Bank report into farmed fish. He was also interviewed by ABC Gippsland on the same topic

ABC Radio National’s Bush Telegraph interviewed Professor Richard Whittington from the Faculty of Veterinary Science on his presentation to the University’s food security conference discussing the importance of Australian fish farming expertise internationally, how it is replacing traditional fishing, and how it supports Asian countries.

Development of a cross-protective footrot vaccine using reverse vaccinology; Rood J, Kennan R, Whittington R, Dhungyel O; Meat and Livestock Australia Ltd/MLA Livestock Production Research and Development Program.

Fighting disease on farms: how do vaccinations drive evolution of new pathogen strains; Barnes A, Whittington R, Ward M; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP).

2011

Collection of resource material for Johnes disease test validation in beef cattle; Whittington R; Meat and Livestock Australia Ltd/Livestock Production Research and Development Program: Strategic and Applied Research Funding.

Genotype and susceptibility to paratuberculosis in cattle - Silirum trial herds; Whittington R; Meat and Livestock Australia Ltd/Livestock Production Research and Development Program: Strategic and Applied Research Funding.

Scoping study for fish health-mariculture and rabbitfish aquaculture development in Indonesia; Whittington R, Rimmer M, Wullur S, Giri N; Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)/Research and Development Programs (R&D Programs).

2010

Extended examination of changes in within-flock prevalence of M Ptb shedding following vaccination with Gudair for OJD in flocks with high, medium and low initial prevalence; Dhand N, Windsor P, Whittington R; Meat and Livestock Australia Ltd/Livestock Production Research and Development Program: Strategic and Applied Research Funding.

Diversification of smallholder coastal aquaculture in Indonesia; Whittington R; Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)/Research and Development Programs (R&D Programs).

2009

Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: Tools for investigation of the nodavirus carrier state in marine, euryhaline and freshwater fish and control of NNV through integrated management; Whittington R; Fisheries Research and Development Corporation/Annual Open Call Funding Round.

Control of nodaviral disease in tropical marine finfish hatcheries: Enhanced biosecurity through the application of contemporary biotechnology, epidemiology and pathobiology; Whittington R, Kusnender E; Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)/Research and Development Programs (R&D Programs).

Improving productivity and profitability of smallholder shrimp aquaculture and related agribusinesses in Indonesia; Whittington R; Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)/International Agricultural Research.

2006

A New Unit In Veterinary Public Health And Food Safety At The University Of Sydney; Whittington R; Meat and Livestock Australia Ltd/Research and Development Grant.

Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: Current And Future Needs For Aquatic Animal Health Training And For Systems For Merit Based Accreditation And Competency Assessments; Whittington R, Jones B; Fisheries Research and Development Corporation/Research and Development Grant.

Arc Centre For Structural And Functional Microbial Genomics - The Role Of Dichelobacter Nodosus Genes In Pathogenesis Of Footrot In Sheep; Whittington R; ARC Centre of Excellence in Structural and Functional Microbial Genomics/Research Support.

2004

Not Known - To be advised; Whittington R; CRC Biosecurity/Research Grants.

Research funding to support acquisition of a ProteinChip Biomarker System; Whittington R; Meat and Livestock Australia Ltd/MLA Livestock Production Research and Development Program.

Identification of risk factors for OJD infection level in sheep flocks; Toribio J, Whittington R; Meat and Livestock Australia Ltd/MLA Livestock Production Research and Development Program.

2003

Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram : Development of diagnostic and reference for epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus in finfish; Whittington R; Fisheries Research and Development Corporation/Annual Open Call Funding Round.

Changes in within-flock prevalence of Mycobacterium Avium paratuberculosis shedding following vaccination with Gudair in high and low prevalence stock flocks; Windsor P, Whittington R; Meat and Livestock Australia Ltd/MLA Livestock Production Research and Development Program.

2002

An Epidemiology and Pathobiology, Training and Research Unit at the University of Sydney; Rose R, Whittington R; Meat and Livestock Australia Ltd/MLA Livestock Production Research and Development Program.

Dhungyel, O., Whittington, R., Ghimere, S., Egerton, J. (2001). Pilus ELISA and an anamnestic test for the diagnosis of virulent ovine footrot and its application in a disease control program in Nepal. Veterinary Microbiology, 79, 31-45.

Dhungyel, O., Whittington, R. (2013). Outbreak-specific monovalent/bivalent vaccination for treatment, control and eradication of virulent footrot in sheep flocks in Australia. 17th International Symposium and 9th International Conference on lameness in Ruminants, N/A: N/A.

Dhungyel, O., Schiller, N., Eppleston, J., Whittington, R. (2011). New approach to footrot vaccination for control and eradication of the disease in Australia. Australian Sheep Veterinarians, N/A: N/A.

Go, J., Whittington, R. (2011). Use of the euryhaline species Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata, as a experimental vector for the transmissionn of megalocytirvirus infection. First FRDC Australasian Scientific Conference on Aquatic Animal Health, N/A: N/A.

Windsor, P., Eppleston, J., Sergeant, E., Dhand, N., Whittington, R. (2009). Determining the risk of transmission of paratuberculosis from Australian sheep vaccinated with GudairTM. 12th Symposium of the International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics ISVEE 2009, New Zealand: International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics.

Begg, D., Plain, K., Waldron, A., de Silva, K., Whittington, R. (2009). Development of an Experimental Infection Model in Cattle using a Low Passage Seed Stock of MAP. 10th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis, Minnesota: University of Minnesota.

Plain, K., Begg, D., Waldron, A., de Silva, K., Whittington, R. (2009). Development of an experimental infection protocol in cattle using a low passage cultured strain of MAP. 10th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis, USA: University of Minnesota.

Dhungyel, O., Whittington, R. (2009). New approach to vaccination for treatment, control and eradication of footrot in sheep and goats. 7th International Sheep Veterinary Congress, US: World Veterinary Association.

Windsor, P., Whittington, R. (2009). Shedding of Mptb from Australian sheep vaccinated against OJD. 10th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis, Minnesota: University of Minnesota.

Dennis, M., Becker, J., Tweedie, A., Landos, M., Whittington, R. (2009). Survey of ornamental fish mortalities in retail outlets of New South Wales. 12th Symposium of the International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics ISVEE 2009, New Zealand: International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics.

de Silva, K., Begg, D., Whittington, R. (2009). The early IL-10 response in ovine Johne's disease. 10th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis, Minnesota: University of Minnesota.

Eppleston, J., Windsor, P., Sergeant, E., Whittington, R. (2008). Changes in the prevalence of Map shedding following the commencement of paratuberculosis control programs using GudairTM vaccine in Australian merino flocks. 9th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis ICP 2007, United States: International Association for Paratuberculosis.

McGregor, H., Nicholls, P., Whittington, R. (2006). An investigation of the subclinical and clinical effects of OJD on production parameters in Australian Merinos. 8th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis ICP 2005, United States: International Association for Paratuberculosis.

Rast, L., Whittington, R. (2006). Longitudinal study of the spread of ovine Johne's disease in a sheep flock in Southeastern New South Wales, Australia. 8th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis ICP 2005, United States: International Association for Paratuberculosis.

Eppleston, J., Reddacliff, L., Windsor, P., Whittington, R., Jones, S. (2005). Efficacy of a killed Mycobacterium paratuberculosis vaccine for the control of OJD in Australian sheep flocks. 8th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis ICP 2005, United States: International Association for Paratuberculosis.

Toribio, J., Laxton, R., O'Donnell, L., van Schaik, G., Lloyd, J., Rose, R., Whittington, R. (2003). An innovative postgraduate program in Veterinary Public Health Management at the University of Sydney. 10th Symposium of the International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics ISVEE 2003, New Zealand: International Symposia on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics.

Whittington, R. (2003). An overview of diagnostic tests for paratuberculosis. 7th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis ICP 2002, United States: International Association for Paratuberculosis.

Toribio, J., Reddacliff, L., Eppleston, J., Windsor, P., Whittington, R. (2003). Epidemiological considerations on the use of pooled faecal culture in an on-farm trial of the Gudair vaccine in Australia. 10th Symposium of the International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics ISVEE 2003, New Zealand: International Symposia on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics.

Sergeant, E., Marshall, D., Whittington, R. (2003). Sensitivity of the agar-gel immuno-diffusion test for Johne's disease in sheep in Australia. 10th Symposium of the International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics ISVEE 2003, New Zealand: International Symposia on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics.

Dhungyel, O., Whittington, R. (2013). Outbreak-specific monovalent/bivalent vaccination for treatment, control and eradication of virulent footrot in sheep flocks in Australia. 17th International Symposium and 9th International Conference on lameness in Ruminants, N/A: N/A.

Dhungyel, O., Schiller, N., Eppleston, J., Whittington, R. (2011). New approach to footrot vaccination for control and eradication of the disease in Australia. Australian Sheep Veterinarians, N/A: N/A.

Go, J., Whittington, R. (2011). Use of the euryhaline species Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata, as a experimental vector for the transmissionn of megalocytirvirus infection. First FRDC Australasian Scientific Conference on Aquatic Animal Health, N/A: N/A.

Windsor, P., Eppleston, J., Sergeant, E., Dhand, N., Whittington, R. (2009). Determining the risk of transmission of paratuberculosis from Australian sheep vaccinated with GudairTM. 12th Symposium of the International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics ISVEE 2009, New Zealand: International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics.

Begg, D., Plain, K., Waldron, A., de Silva, K., Whittington, R. (2009). Development of an Experimental Infection Model in Cattle using a Low Passage Seed Stock of MAP. 10th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis, Minnesota: University of Minnesota.

Plain, K., Begg, D., Waldron, A., de Silva, K., Whittington, R. (2009). Development of an experimental infection protocol in cattle using a low passage cultured strain of MAP. 10th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis, USA: University of Minnesota.

Dhungyel, O., Whittington, R. (2009). New approach to vaccination for treatment, control and eradication of footrot in sheep and goats. 7th International Sheep Veterinary Congress, US: World Veterinary Association.

Windsor, P., Whittington, R. (2009). Shedding of Mptb from Australian sheep vaccinated against OJD. 10th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis, Minnesota: University of Minnesota.

Dennis, M., Becker, J., Tweedie, A., Landos, M., Whittington, R. (2009). Survey of ornamental fish mortalities in retail outlets of New South Wales. 12th Symposium of the International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics ISVEE 2009, New Zealand: International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics.

de Silva, K., Begg, D., Whittington, R. (2009). The early IL-10 response in ovine Johne's disease. 10th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis, Minnesota: University of Minnesota.

Eppleston, J., Windsor, P., Sergeant, E., Whittington, R. (2008). Changes in the prevalence of Map shedding following the commencement of paratuberculosis control programs using GudairTM vaccine in Australian merino flocks. 9th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis ICP 2007, United States: International Association for Paratuberculosis.

McGregor, H., Nicholls, P., Whittington, R. (2006). An investigation of the subclinical and clinical effects of OJD on production parameters in Australian Merinos. 8th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis ICP 2005, United States: International Association for Paratuberculosis.

Rast, L., Whittington, R. (2006). Longitudinal study of the spread of ovine Johne's disease in a sheep flock in Southeastern New South Wales, Australia. 8th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis ICP 2005, United States: International Association for Paratuberculosis.

Eppleston, J., Reddacliff, L., Windsor, P., Whittington, R., Jones, S. (2005). Efficacy of a killed Mycobacterium paratuberculosis vaccine for the control of OJD in Australian sheep flocks. 8th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis ICP 2005, United States: International Association for Paratuberculosis.

Toribio, J., Laxton, R., O'Donnell, L., van Schaik, G., Lloyd, J., Rose, R., Whittington, R. (2003). An innovative postgraduate program in Veterinary Public Health Management at the University of Sydney. 10th Symposium of the International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics ISVEE 2003, New Zealand: International Symposia on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics.

Whittington, R. (2003). An overview of diagnostic tests for paratuberculosis. 7th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis ICP 2002, United States: International Association for Paratuberculosis.

Toribio, J., Reddacliff, L., Eppleston, J., Windsor, P., Whittington, R. (2003). Epidemiological considerations on the use of pooled faecal culture in an on-farm trial of the Gudair vaccine in Australia. 10th Symposium of the International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics ISVEE 2003, New Zealand: International Symposia on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics.

Sergeant, E., Marshall, D., Whittington, R. (2003). Sensitivity of the agar-gel immuno-diffusion test for Johne's disease in sheep in Australia. 10th Symposium of the International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics ISVEE 2003, New Zealand: International Symposia on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics.

Whittington, R., Eamens, G., Cousins, D. (2003). Specificity of absorbed ELISA and agar gel immunodiffusion tests for paratuberculosis in goats with observations about use of these tests in infected goats. Australian Veterinary Journal, 81(1-2), 71-75.

Dhungyel, O., Whittington, R., Ghimere, S., Egerton, J. (2001). Pilus ELISA and an anamnestic test for the diagnosis of virulent ovine footrot and its application in a disease control program in Nepal. Veterinary Microbiology, 79, 31-45.